TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 33, 13 December 1895, Page 29

T I M A R U.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

SACKED HEART CONCERT.

The annual entertainment given by the pupils of the S&cred Heart School in aid of the prizo fund was held at the Theatre Royal on the 28th and 29th November, The reputation which these entertaiumentß deservedly possess had the desired effect of rilling the theatre on both nights, the large audiences abundantly testifying their appreciation by frequent and loud applause. The programme this year was of a more ambitious character than any previously attempted, and it can be taid without hesitation that the exhibition given by the pupils surpassed in excellence and variety any of their previous effortß. The action songs and calesthenic exercises in the first part of the programme were wonderfully clever. The " Bing Drill" and "March of the Milkmaids" especially pleased the andience, giving indisputable evidence of a careful and superior training by the many evolutions and graceful changes of position performed by the pupils with app went ease. The " Swiss Festival " was another speciality, the dresses and music being most appropriate, wiib a tableau vivant of William Tell and his son in the background. The stage at times during the entertainment was quite dazzling to new, the blazo of colour from the various coloured dresses as the pupils moTed and coantermove.i in a seeming but well-regulated confusion, furnishing a living r 'pr< sjntatiou of the kaloidescjpe. Comic songs by Masters Mahoney and M'Djnald were capitally rendered, each performer having to respond to an undeniable encor c . '• The Little JSstbetics " was certainly one of tha gems of tbe evening. Six little dotß, dressed in quaint ae ithetic costumes, delivered, in, song their anticipations as to how they wished to be treated at an impending asthetic tea party, and evoked loud applause by their little absurdities. Master Pat Mahoney, quite a little fellow, tickled the audience immensely by his humorous rendering of a recitation (" lha Bald-headed Man"), and Miater Pat Colling, in "Jimmy the Nurse," aud as an encore " A Bit of Local News," kept the house in roars of laughter. " Lost amon* the FairieF," a short sketch by tbe little ones, waß very amusing. Kate M'Donald, the lost child, and Maggie Burni, as Queen of the Fairies, fulfilled their parts admirab'y. After an interval, the most important item on the programme was commenced — viz, an operetta entitled " Rimpslstiltskin," written and composed by Alfred Scott-Gatty. This operetta has been the rage in London for some time past, and is especially adapted for children, and this ia the first occasion it has been played in New Zealand. The plot is rather novel. Old King Cole, a merry old Boul (Polly Wade) is reduced to a very impecunious condition, or, as colonials would say, "clean broke." An ambitious miller named Jan (Mary M'Donald) being aware of the king's financial distress and wishing to marry his daughter Sophia (Maud Healey) to the King, informs the latter that his daughter can spin old straw info gold. The king is pleased by the maiden's appearance, and agrees t0 make her his queen provided she can fulfil her task of making gold from straw, but ebould sho fail in so doing her bead would be forfeited. The young maiden is ia despair at her impossible task, when a Bpiteful dwarf, Rampelstiltskin (Tessie Spring), appears! whose avocation is to tease humanity, and promises to accomplish her task on condition that when she is queen her fuiure son and heir should be delivered to him whja tnree years old, The compact ib agreed to, the maiden marries the king, and all goes happily until tbe dwarf appears when the son and heir ie three years old to claim him. A day's respite is granted, the dwarf agreeing to

relinquish his claim if the queen oould guess his name, whioh no mortal, fish, bird, or beast had ever beard. The Queen's parents, Jan, the miller, and Jannette, his wife (Nellie Egan), are stricken with dißtnay, and wandering in the woods at midnight where ihe fairies were supposed to dwell, they came on the dwarr, who is an elfish king, surrounded by fairies singing bis name, " Rimpelsiilskin," and with this precious information they hasten to the King's court. When the dwarf again appears he is co-npletely discomforted at the discovery of his name, leaves in rage and despair, and thus all ends happily for King Cole, his wife, and court. The King's song, " That's me," was cleverly given, as also was the duet by Sophia and the dwarf, " O queer little mac." The back bone of the operetta, however, was in tho clever comicalities and acting of Jan the miller, and his wife Jannette. Nellie Egan as tht latter was a host in herself, the natnralness of her acting and singing being admirable for such a youthful amateur. Jan ably supported hia wife and the worthy pair were always received with applause. In their duet and dance, " I shall be my lady," the audience would not be denied an encore. It certainly was one of the best items in the operetta, and the performers divided honours eqaally between them. Maud Healey looked a graceful and dignified queeD, and sang very sweetly. King Cole's " get up " dtfied all attempts at discovering the identity of the performer, and as for "Bimpelstilkin," the only fault to be found with him was that he was rather a pretty dwarf even that his toes were inclined to be ambitions. Goldstick the Court official (Anne Dillon), consistent with his character, was always in everybody's way. The opera was tastefully mounted, the court scene and daDce being a finished and excellent display. The performance of such an operetta by the children reflects the greatest credit on the nuns— who are also deeply grateful to Mr Sidney Wolf for his invaluable and honorary services, Mr Wolf had the musical portion of the operetta to attend to, and should certainly be prond of bis efforts. There was a simplicity in the children's singing, an absence of Btraining and discord, and an exactness in time and harmony that was very pleaßing. Miss E. McGuinness acted as accompanist with her unual ability, and Mr Cnarles Knight manipulated the limelight very satisfactorily.